Research on the problems and countermeasures of Chinese local government’s response to network public opinion crisis

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The development of the Internet and the rise of new media have changed the traditional model of information dissemination. With the increase in the number of Internet users and Internet popularization, the Internet has gradually become an important platform for public opinion expression, interactive exchange and local governance in China. At the same time, as the inevitable product of Internet development, network public opinion has drawn great attention from the government. If the local government cannot effectively respond to network public opinion, the public will question the local government’s administrative capacity, which may cause the breakout of a network public opinion crisis and a negative influence on the local government’s image. Therefore, it is an important task for local governments to accurately grasp the evolution law of network public opinion crises and take effective countermeasures to cope with the crisis.
Based on the definition of core concepts, the spiral of silence theory and the 4R theory of crisis management, this research explores the formation and evolution of network public opinion crisis. Then after reviewing the history and current situation of network public opinion in China, this research uses the case study method and comparative analysis method to study the local government’s response to the network public opinion crisis in the incidents of Tianjin Port explosion and Henan Floods, examining the problems and causes of coping strategies taken by the government. Finally, in view of the problems exposed by the local government in response to network public opinion crisis, combined with the cause analysis and the actual situation of crisis response in China, this research puts forward countermeasures for local governments from the aspects of improving laws and regulations, optimizing coping strategies, enhancing coping capacity, and strengthening collaborative governance. It is expected that the analysis and discussion of this research can provide practical suggestions for local governments to improve their credibility and achieve the goal of good governance.

국문 초록 (Abstract)

인터넷의 발전과 뉴미디어의 발흥은 전통적인 정보전달의 패턴을 변화시켰다. 인터넷 이용자 수가 증가하고 인터넷이 보급됨에 따라 인터넷은 점차 중국의 여론 표현, 상호 교류, 지방 통치를 위한 중요한 장이 되었다. 아울러 인터넷 발전의 필연적 산물인 네트워크 여론은 정부에서 크게 주목받고 있다. 지방정부가 네트워크 여론에 효과적으로 대응하지 못한다면 대중들은 지방정부의 행정력에 의문을 제기하게 되고, 이로 인해 네트워크 여론 위기가 발생하고 지방정부의 이미지에 부정적인 영향을 미칠 수 있다. 따라서 네트워크 여론 위기의 발전 법칙을 정확하게 파악하여 효과적인 대책을 탐구하는 것이 지방정부의 중요한 과제이다.
본 연구 는 핵심 개념들의 정의와 침묵의 나선 이론, 위기관리의 4R 이론을 바탕으로 네트워크 여론 위기의 형성과 발전을 탐색하였다. 그 다음에 중국 네트워크 여론의 역사와 현황을 살펴본 후 사례연구법과 비교분석법을 사용하여 티엔진 (天津) 항구 폭발 사건 및 허난(河南) 홍수 사건에서 네트워크 여론 위기에 대한 지방정부의 대응을 연구 대상으로 정부 대응 전략의 문제점과 원인을 분석하였다. 마지막으로 본 연구는 지방정부가 노출된 문제점에 대해 원인 분석 및 중국의 위기 대응 실제 상황을 결합하여 법률 개선, 대응 전략 최적화, 대응 능력 향상, 협업적 거버넌스 강화 등에서 지방정부의 대책을 제시하였다. 본 연구의 분석과 논의를 통해 지방정부의 공신력을 높이고 좋은 거버넌스의 목표를 달성하기 위한 실질적인 조안을 제공할 수 있기를 기대한다.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• 1. Introduction 1
• 1.1 Research Question 1
• 1.2 Research Methods 6
• 1.2.1 Case Study Method 6
• 1.2.2 Comparative Analysis Method 8
• 1.3 Research Significance 9
• 1.3.1 Theoretical Significance 9
• 1.3.2 Practical Significance 10
• 2. Literature Review 13
• 2.1 Related Concepts 13
• 2.2 Theoretical Basis 19
• 2.2.1 Spiral of Silence Theory 19
• 2.2.2 4R Theory of Crisis Management 21
• 2.3 A Review of Previous Research 23
• 3. History and Current Situation of Network Public Opinion in China 31
• 3.1 Development History of Network Public Opinion 31
• 3.2 Distribution of Network Public Opinion 36
• 3.3 Current Situation of Local Government’s Response to Network Public Opinion Crisis 40
• 3.3.1 Current Situation of Institution Building 40
• 3.3.2 Current Situation of Coping Style 41
• 3.3.3 Summary 43
• 4. Case Analysis of Tianjin Port Explosion and Henan Floods 45
• 4.1 Tianjin Port Explosion 45
• 4.1.1 Background of the Case 45
• 4.1.2 Evolution of Network Public Opinion Crisis 47
• 4.2 Henan Floods 52
• 4.2.1 Background of the Case 52
• 4.2.2 Evolution of Network Public Opinion Crisis 55
• 4.3 Comparative Analysis of Cases 60
• 5. Problems and Causes of Local Government’s Response to Network Public Opinion Crisis 67
• 5.1 Problems in Local Government’s Response 67
• 5.1.1 Imperfect Pre-warning Mechanism 67
• 5.1.2 Untimely Response 69
• 5.1.3 Inappropriate Response 71
• 5.1.4 Inadequate Information Disclosure 73
• 5.1.5 Unsound Communication and Coordination Mechanism 75
• 5.2 Cause Analysis 77
• 5.2.1 External Environment 78
• 5.2.2 Internal Factors 79
• 6. Countermeasures for Local Government’s Response to Network Public Opinion Crisis 87
• 6.1 Improvement of Laws and Regulations 87
• 6.2 Optimization of Coping Strategies 89
• 6.3 Enhancement of Coping Capacity 92
• 6.4 Strengthening of Collaborative Governance 94
• 7. Conclusion 98
• 7.1 Summary of Findings 98
• 7.2 Limitations of the Research 100
• References 101
• 한글 초록 119